DG 

70 







LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, 


UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 


















































PRICE, 10 GENTS. 


DESCRIPTION 


-OF- 


POMPEIAN 


II 



EXHIBITED AT 


THE POMPEIAN MUSEUM, 


FAIRMOUNT PARK. 


(PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY OF THE PARK COMMISSION.) 


c 

PHILADELPHIA : 

EDWARD STERN & CO., 

Entered according to act of Congress, in the office of the Librarian of Congress, 
at Washington, D. C. 


■ A VS 1 














PREFACE. 


HE memorable city of Pompeii, near Naples, disin- 



X terred after eighteen centuries of oblivion, with 
its fora, streets, temples, theatres and houses, presents so in¬ 
teresting and sublime a spectacle as would in vain be sought 
for away from its renowned precincts. 

But since all cannot go to Pompeii, Pompeii has in a 
sense, been brought to us. This strange idea contempla¬ 
ted by many, has at last been realized through the intelli¬ 
gence and indefatigable labors of Signor Giacomo Luzzati, 
an Italian artist who has devoted all his time and energies 
to this special study. 

After years spent in experiments, he succeeded at length 
in inventing a system of photo-sculptural views, which 
are so remarkable in their exactness and for the bold relief 
in which they stand out, that they present the appearance 
of being perfectly natural, and the spectator fancies he is 
actually walking among those imposing and famous 
buildings. 





2 


Among the most celebrated descriptions of the fearful 
catastrophe which destroyed it, may be mentioned the 
works of Sir Edward Bulwer Lytton and Sir William 
Gell. The one said that God pleased to bury that city in 
order to preserve it,—the other, that he wished all his coun¬ 
trymen to visit it. 



HISTORICAL NOTICE. 


OMPEII, a city of ancient Italy, was situated in that 



X part of the country to which the ancients gave the 
name Campania. 

It had an area of about 61 acres, and lay at the head of 
the Gulf of Cumae, known in modern times as the Bay of 
Naples, five miles from the volcanic mountain of Vesuvius 
and thirteen miles southeast of the city of Naples. Of the 
early history of Pompeii, little is known. It is said to 
have been founded by Hercules, and ruled successively by 
the Oscans, Pelasgians, Tyrrhenians, and Samnites. 

It is first mentioned in B. C. 310. And the next ac¬ 
count of it is in the Social or Marsic war, which began 

B. C. 91. 

The first recorded volcanic paroxysm of Vesuvius, oc¬ 
curred on the 23d of August A. D. 79, when the whole 
city was overwhelmed by showers of cinders, stones, mud 
and lava, which rained upon it for more than a week and 
finally buried it from sight. 



4 


Thus it remained for 1676 years; for although indica¬ 
tions of its ruins were observed in 1689, the excavations 
did not commence until 1755. Nor was it by one eruption 
alone that the city was covered to the present depth, 
which is from twelve to fourteen feet. Successive layers 
are clearly to be traced, and the lowest bears marks of hav¬ 
ing been moved, whilst the others are untouched ; a plain 
proof that some time elapsed between the deposits, and 
that the inhabitants have made excavations in search of 
their more valuable property. 

The upper stories of the buildings, which were probably 
composed of wood, were either destroyed by the burning 
lava which fell upon them, or forced inward by the weight 
of the enormous superincumbent mass, or the violence with 
which it descended. 

With this exception, we see a beautiful and once flour¬ 
ishing city, just as it existed nearly eighteen centuries 
ago. 

The buildings stand as they were originally designed, 
unviolated by time or fashion, and, in some instances, me¬ 
morials of a more impressive character bear sad testimony 
to the suddenness and completeness of the calamity which 
overwhelmed the city. 


5 


The excavations, visited by people from all parts of the 
world, are now prosecuted with vigor by the Italian Gov¬ 
ernment. 

The scenes and views in this collection were executed 
by Signor Cesare Uva, of Naples. 




6 


DESCRIPTION 


OF THE 


RUINS, RESTORATIONS, AND SCENES, 


EXHIBITED IN THE 

POMPEIAN GALLERY. 

P AIBMOTJUT 1? .A. IR, IEC . 


The views of the ruins are taken from the originals by the system 
of Photosculpture, invented by the artist, Giacomo Luzzati, origin¬ 
ally of the Pompeiorama and director of the Royal Calcography of 
Naples. The views of restorations are taken from the plans of the 
localities, and interpreted according to the architectural remains now 
existing. 

The scenes are relieved by minute and graphic descriptions in 
this pamphlet. 


RUINS. 

Fora, Streets, Houses, Temples and Public Buildings. 

1. Civic Forum .—A vast area, with porticos and columns 
at the sides; its end is opposite to the Temple of Jupiter. 
National assemblies were held there with great pomp, and 
equestrian statues raised to great men. 












2. Triumphal Arch. 

3. Tribunal .—A rectangular area, surrounded by porticos 
and high columns, with a tribune at the end. It was here 
that justice was administered and popular assemblies 
met. 

4. Temple of Mercury .—A pretty temple opposite the 
Forum, which is now used as a repository for marbles, and 
terra-cotta discovered here and there. A bas relief\ repre¬ 
senting a sacrifice, is well preserved. 

5. Temple of Fortune .—Was erected on a lofty base¬ 
ment, the fragments of the fallen columns are exquisitely 
worked. 

6. House of the Fawn .—The most spacious and beau¬ 
tiful in Pompeii. It contained the large mosaic, represent¬ 
ing the Battle of Alexander; and on a small pillar in the 
oentre of the court yard, was the celebrated dancing fawn, 
in bronze. 

7. Edifice of Eumachia .—Erected by the priestess 
Eumachia, as indicated by the inscription on the door; its 
purpose has not yet been ascertained. It is supposed to 
have been the exchange. 

8. House of Cornelius Rufus .—From the likeness in 
marble, still to be seen, and the inscription. It was lately 
discovered, and is one of the largest. 


9. Bake Houses and Mills. 


8 


10. Tragic Theatre. —Was erected on the hill, and being 
uncovered, the spectators could enjoy the sea breeze. It 
held five thousand people. 

11. Street of the Public Seat —Near the Herculaneum 
gate, with a niche for the weary traveller. 

12. Street of Tombs. —From the Herculaneum gate to 
the village Augusto Felice. 

The ancients, in order to show more respect to their dead, 
used to erect their tombs at the entrance of the city, and in 
the best roads. 

13. General Panorama of Pompeian Excavations ( bird’s 
eye view). —Taken from nature, from a tower erected for 
that purpose at Pompeii. 

RESTORATIONS. 

14. Restoration of the Civic Po7'um. —Corresponding to 
the ruin No. 1. 

15. Restoration of the House of Alconio , 

16. Restoration of the House of Ariadne. —So called from 
a picture representing Ariadne and Theseus. It is large 
and rich in columns. 

17. Restoration of the House of Marcus Lucretius. —Also 
recently discovered, is one of the richest in sculptures and 
paintings, and is especially remarkable for its elevated gar¬ 
dens, ornamented with numerous statues, and a very pretty 
fountain. The name of Marcus Lucretius was found 
written on the door. 


9 


18. Restoration of the Temple of Fortune. —Correspond¬ 
ing to the ruin No. 5. 

19. Restoration of the House of the Fawn. —Correspond¬ 
ing to the ruin No. 6. 

20. Restoration of the House of Panza. 

21. Restoration of the House of Cornelius Rufus. 

22. House of the Tragic Poet .—So called from a mosaic 
found there. It is also called Homer’s House, from the 
splendid pictures now kept in the museum of Naples, rep¬ 
resenting the “ Iliad; ” but, after having been illustrated by 
Sir. E. Bulwer Lytton, in his work, “ The last days of 
Pompeii, ” it is known as the House of Glaucus. 

23. Restoration of the Public Baths .—A vast and elegant 
establishment, separated into two compartments, the walls 
are decorated with pictures and colored has reliefs. 

SCENES OF POMPEIAN LIFE. 

ERUPTION CP MOUNT VESUVIUS. 

24. A solemn sacrifice at the Temple of Venus. 

White bulls are taken to the altar and sacrificed. The 
priests recite prayers, and the people witness with music 
and singing. 

25. Criminal judgment in the Basilica .—Publius Ame- 
tistus, a young nobleman accused of sacrilege, is taken back 
to prison after the public hearing. The magistrates en¬ 
grave their vote on tablets, and, with hand and arm bare, 
place it in the urn. 


10 


The lawyers for the defence are within the ring, before 
the statue of Justice. 

Soldiers keep back the crowd. The ladies and peopleof 
distinction are seated on the balcony. Publius Ametistus 
is condemned to death. 

26. Festival in the House of Arrius Diomedes. —Large 
building with garden, surrounded by colonnade and corrid¬ 
ors; underneath are cellars, in which were found many 
human skeletons. This house is called Diomedes’, from 
the tomb discovered close by, of Arrius Diomedes, village 
master. 

27. Funeral of a Pompeian Nobleman. 

28. Public Market at the Triangular Forum. —In the 
area comprised within the Forum, the Theatre and the 
Temple of Hercules, congregate all grades of traders. In 
the left alley, many beasts are lead to the altar to be sacri¬ 
ficed, preceded by the priests. In front, stand the corn 
merchants, a few jewelers and idol mongers, also the women 
who draw water at the well. 

29. Election of Deputies in the Civic Forum. 

30. Combat of Gladiators in the Amphitheatre. —The 
steps are crowded with spectators : in the first row on the 
left, are the nobles and the vestals. In the arena, several 
couples of gladiators are fighting at the same time, some 
on horseback and some on foot with swords and shields; 
others with the net and trident. The dead are dragged 
out with hooks. 




11 


The director of the games is leading others to the arena, 
for the fights to come. 

Meanwhile, the life of one who has fallen wounded is 
spared by a signal given by the people, in raising their 
arms and crying, “ Non Habet.” 

31. Quarrel between the Pompeians and Nocerini , in the 
corridors of the Amphitheatre. —During an assault of wild 
beasts in the arena, a youth from the neighboring town of 
Nocera, having acted disrespectfully to a Pompeian woman, 
such a disturbance arose, that more than a thousand people 
were killed. The senate ordered the amphitheatre to be 
closed for ten years. In one of its corridors, the combat¬ 
ants are fighting and crowding ; at the further end are seen 
the circus and wild beasts. 

32. Glaucus in the arena of the Amphitheatre , condemned 
to wrestle with a Lion. 

33 Last days of Pompeii, (in the street leading to the 
Temple of Fortune).—On the 13th of September, in the 
year 79 of the Christian era, Vesuvius, which was consid¬ 
ered a volcano extinguished forever, unexpectedly broke out 
in an eruption of flames, scoriae, ashes and boiling water. 
The Pompeians, surprised and terrified, sought refuge in 
flight. Some, lost in the darkness, broken only by the 
lightning, use burning torches, which scarcely resist the 
wind ; others are suffocated by the heavy and sulphurous 
atmosphere; some trying to get away on chariots, run 
against each other. The temples and houses are trembling, 
the earth shakes ; all is confusion and horror. This terri- 




12 


ble scene lasted a week, after which Pompeii had disap¬ 
peared, not to come to light again for eighteen centuries. 

34. Last eruption of Mount Vesuvius , April 22nd , 72.— 
Seen from Naples; taken from the elevation of Posilippo, at 
the celebrated villa Maggolina. 























































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